Co-creating rehabilitation: findings from a pilot and implications for wider public service reform

Baines, Susan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3859-9448, Fox, Chris ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1931-2058, Harrison, Jordan, Smith, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0344-913X and Marsh, Caroline (2022) Co-creating rehabilitation: findings from a pilot and implications for wider public service reform. Probation Journal, 69 (4). pp. 452-471. ISSN 0264-5505

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Abstract

As part of a large pan-European project on co-creating public services we supported the design of a programme in England that attempted to operationalise research on desistance, through a model of co-created, strengths-based working. We then evaluated its implementation and impact. The programme was implemented in a Community Rehabilitation Company. It was delivered in the context of rapid organisational change, often in response to rapidly changing external events and a turbulent policy environment. These factors impeded implementation. An impact evaluation did not identify a statistically significant difference in re-offending rates between the intervention group and a comparator group. However, in-depth qualitative evaluation identified positive examples of co-production and co-creation, with individual case managers and service users supportive and noting positive change. Taken as a whole our findings suggest that a co-created, strengths-based model of probation case management is promising but needs to be accompanied by wider systems change if it is to be embedded successfully.